Problem-Solving Solutions for Awkward Bathroom Spaces
Have you ever walked into a bathroom and felt like you were immediately bumping into everything? Or maybe you have a tiny closet that’s more like a tight squeeze than a functional storage space? I’ve been there, my friends. In fact, our master bathroom and closet situation was the epitome of awkward and cramped before we made some major changes.
When I mentioned to my friends that we were replacing the doors in our master ensuite area with barn doors, I got a lot of blank stares. These people have seen our bedroom and I’m sure they were wondering how barn doors could possibly fit in with our decor. That’s why we opted for a more modern, streamlined interpretation of the classic sliding door.
Our “new” home was built in the early 2000s and, like many homes of that era, the layout and design choices left a bit to be desired. One of the things I’ve always disliked about our space was the awkward bi-folding doors leading into the master closets and bathroom area. Not only did they create a lot of noise, the gap in the middle of the doors when closed never felt very private. And to make matters worse, just beyond this clumsy opening were our “his and hers” closets, each with doors that used to swing into the closet space. This arrangement greatly reduced the functionality of the available space. The only way to access the items behind the door was to go in and close the door behind you. It really needed something like sliding doors to help make the room a little more secure and private.
After many months of living life as a closet slob, because of inadequate storage, and hearing the annoying clang of those doors each morning, I was determined to find a solution. Ideally, the closets should have been built with pocket doors, but to retrofit a pocket door is quite an undertaking. We realized that a barn door or sliding door was our solution. But we also realized that the style of our home is more traditional and a rustic barn door is just not in step with the architecture of the home, nor in keeping with the style of our bedroom.
That’s when we decided to create our own modern, streamlined interpretation of a sliding barn door. We searched and found a streamlined version of sliding door hardware, from Amazon for around $90 each. We love everything about this hardware. It’s solidly built, completely quiet and very high quality. The only thing it lacked was thorough instructions. If you’ve ever built something from Ikea, that’s what this was like. But with a little trial and error, we figured it out.
Our next decision was to choose a style for the sliding barn doors. I wanted something contemporary, yet classic enough to work in a traditional space. A four-panel door seemed to fit the bill nicely. We decided to build the doors ourselves using red oak PureBond Plywood. After our doors and hardware were hung, the next thing to consider was how to deal with the remaining door stop, holes for the door strike and the hinges.
One option that would have worked was to cover the offending side of the door jamb with a piece of wooden lattice. It also would have brought the level almost up to the door stop. But we decided to rip all of the casing out and create the look of a cased opening, completely removing the evidence of an old door jamb. This process ended up being a little more involved than we thought. Most homes are built using door kits, so we wrongly assumed that the door jamb was made up of three pieces of wood. But in actuality, it was two pieces that took a good deal of chiseling to remove. It took some careful, methodical work because we chose not to remove the door casing/trim.
To build back the opening as a cased opening we used 1×6’s ripped down to fit the opening, about 4 3/4 inches wide. The level of the opening varied greatly around each side of the door, so we cut scraps of wood to shim each side to the desired depth. In some places, we used pieces that were an inch thick, other places we needed thinner pieces like scraps of beadboard. The resulting transition of a smooth opening was worth the effort.
When we initially ordered the door hardware we didn’t even realize it came with a finger pull. The back side each of the plates needed to be counter sunk for our doors because of how closely it came to the door casing/trim. On the front of the main door I wanted a more decorative, statement pull, so that required a little bit of planning. The top hole for the handle was a simple counter sink, but for the bottom, we counter sunk the finger pull and then drilled a countersunk hole for the handle. Eventually, we just glued the finger pull in place along with caulking around the edges.
The resulting space is remarkably clean and open. It’s amazing how removing doors with hinges gives you so much more room. It feels so grand to walk through this little hallway now. I just love how this has completely transformed this space! Functionally, the modern sliding barn entry way doors achieved the goal of a quiet, less cumbersome, entry into the ensuite and happily more space in our closets!
[1] As I mentioned earlier, our master bathroom and closet situation was a real problem area. The awkward bi-folding doors and swing-in closet doors just made the whole space feel cluttered and disjointed. But by replacing them with our custom sliding barn doors, we were able to create a much more cohesive and functional layout.
[2] One of the key benefits of the sliding barn door design is the space-saving aspect. Traditional hinged doors require a good amount of clearance to swing open, which can really eat up precious square footage, especially in smaller bathrooms. But with a sliding door, the entire door panel moves along a track, allowing you to maximize the available floor space. This was a game-changer for us, as it gave us much more flexibility in how we arranged the rest of the bathroom and closet furnishings.
[3] Another major perk of the sliding barn doors is the noise reduction factor. Those old bi-folding doors were constantly creaking and clanking, which was particularly disruptive first thing in the morning when my husband was trying to get ready for work. The solid, well-constructed sliding hardware we used creates a seamless, quiet operation that’s so much more peaceful. No more waking the whole household with a noisy door opening!
[4] Of course, aesthetics were also a key consideration for us. We wanted a design that would complement the traditional style of our home, but still feel fresh and modern. The clean lines and simple paneling of our custom doors fit the bill perfectly. They add an architectural interest and sophistication that the old doors completely lacked.
[5] While sliding barn doors are an increasingly popular solution for awkward entryways, there are a few things to keep in mind during the planning process. Clearance for the door track is critical, as you’ll need several inches of space above the door opening to accommodate the hardware. You’ll also want to make sure the door is wide enough to fully cover the opening when closed, for maximum privacy. And don’t forget to factor in any baseboards or trim that may impact the door’s range of motion.
[6] Overall, our sliding barn door project was a resounding success. It completely transformed a cramped, dysfunctional area into a bright, airy, and sophisticated space. The modern design blends seamlessly with our home’s aesthetic, while the practical benefits of the sliding mechanism have made our daily lives so much easier. If you’re dealing with an awkward bathroom or closet layout, I highly recommend exploring a sliding barn door solution. It just might be the perfect problem-solver for your space!
Sources:
[1] https://deeplysouthernhome.com/modern-barn-doors-an-easy-solution-to-awkward-entries/
[2] https://abeautifulmess.com/sliding-door-solution-for-small-spaces/
[3] https://www.pinterest.com/pin/modern-barn-doors-solution-for-awkward-spaces–589338301209375198/
[4] https://www.chrislovesjulia.com/solving-andis-awkward-living-room-dilemma/
[5] https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5222557/kitchen-dilemma-awkward-layout-several-possible-solutions
[6] https://www.pearlremodeling.com/news/91/29/Solutions-to-3-common-small-bathroom-problems/
[7] https://www.tamifaulknerdesign.com/blog/improving/bathroom/floor/plans/design/consultation